THE Tweed and Murwillumbah District Hospitals have come out shining in newly-released hospital infection report thanks to a hygiene campaign.

Both hospitals were below the national benchmark for cases of the potentially life-threatening Golden Staph (Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia or SAB) bacteria.

Northern NSW Local Health District spokesman Dr David Hutton said for the first time the Commonwealth Government has released hospital infection rates on the MyHospitals website.

"The aim is to have as few cases of SAB as possible and one of the most effective ways to minimise the risk of SAB and other healthcare associated infections is good hand hygiene, which NNSW LHD has actively encouraged in its facilities across the district," Dr Hutton said.

"The cases shown for SAB associated with care provided by hospital, is for the period July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011."

The national benchmark for public hospitals is no more than two cases per 10,000 days of patient care.

Dr Hutton said there were zero cases of SAB for the Murwillumbah District Hospital during 28,635 days of patient care and the Tweed Hospital reported 15 cases of SAB during 90,654 days of patient care, equating to 1.65 cases per 10,000 days of patient care.

"These results are pleasing and indicate positive results from a campaign initiated by the Tweed /Byron Network Management to reduce infections," Dr Hutton said.

"The campaign focused on improved hand hygiene, better antiseptic technique for inserting central and peripheral IV lines and more focused environmental cleaning.

"NNSW LHD congratulates Murwillumbah Hospital and TTH's Clinical and Support Staff on the positive way they have responded to this campaign to reduce infections at TTH.

In 2010 the Your Health Service website showed the Tweed Hospital had 2.6% infection rate, which was above the national average of 2%.

However according to a statement, the blood stream infection rate of 2.6% was consistent with other similar-sized hospitals across the North Coast Area Health Service and the hospital said they would increase staff education in regards to hygiene.

"Initiatives that have been undertaken to address these infections include increased staff education, hand hygiene auditing, use of appropriate skin antiseptics and training about appropriate intravenous line insertion techniques," the statement said.